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The Cuban activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia reported on social media the dramatic situation of a five-year-old boy who has been in a coma for nearly two months after a traffic accident on the Havana–Pinar del Río highway.
The activist explained that the mother of the child in a coma survived the accident, as did her two children, but they are still hospitalized. The woman's parents and grandmother died in the incident.
The minor who is in a coma suffered the loss of the frontal bone of the skull and had a cerebral clot. The child remains hospitalized in intensive care. The doctors treating him have indicated the use of baclofen, a medication essential for his neurological recovery, but it is currently unavailable in Cuba.
The family, residing in the La Salud community in the Mayabeque province, has embarked on a frantic search to obtain the medication, whether through donations or community purchase. Anyone who can help can contact the child's mother at the number +53 5 3967628.
The shortage of medications on the island has been officially acknowledged. In July, the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, admitted before the National Assembly of the Popular Power that the Cuban healthcare system is undergoing a structural crisis, with coverage of only 30% of the basic medicine stock.
Portal Miranda acknowledged that hospitals are facing "chronic shortages of medical supplies, organizational failures, the exodus of professionals, and illegal sale of services," as well as an alarming increase in maternal and infant mortality.
“These problems will not be resolved immediately,” the minister stated, linking any potential improvement to the external financing the country manages to attract, implying that public health in Cuba is no longer a guaranteed right, but a service dependent on the availability of foreign currency.
While millions of Cubans face the shortage of basic medicines, the Cuban government continues to prioritize the tourism sector as the engine of the national economy.
Frequently asked questions about the health crisis in Cuba and the case of the child in a coma
What is the current situation of the healthcare system in Cuba?
The healthcare system in Cuba is undergoing an unprecedented structural crisis, characterized by a shortage of medications and essential resources. According to the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, the coverage of the basic medication list is only 30%. Additionally, there are chronic shortages of medical supplies, organizational failures, and a significant exodus of professionals. Public health in Cuba now relies on external funding and is no longer guaranteed as a universal right.
Why does the Cuban child in a coma need baclofen and is not in Cuba?
The child, who suffered a severe traffic accident, needs baclofen for his neurological recovery, as he experienced a loss of the frontal bone of the skull and a brain clot. However, due to the health crisis in Cuba, this medication is not available in the country, which has led his family to seek help to obtain it through donations or purchases abroad.
How is the health crisis affecting the Cuban population in general?
The health crisis in Cuba is severely affecting the population, with a widespread shortage of basic medicines and medical equipment. This situation forces many individuals to turn to the black market for medications, which can be dangerous due to the lack of quality control. Furthermore, there is an increase in maternal and infant mortality, and patients face long waits to receive medical care due to a lack of resources and staff.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the health crisis?
According to the Minister of Public Health, any improvement in the Cuban health system will depend on external financing that the country is able to secure. Although strategic actions have been defined with goals to address the crisis, no specific dates have been provided for their implementation. The priority remains tourism as the economic engine, leaving health in a secondary position and contingent upon the availability of foreign currency.
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